Vault-trap.



N9. 722,925, PATENTED MAR. 17, 1903.

' N. A. STEPHENS.

VAULT TRAP.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 26, 1902.

N0 MODEL. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1/ fihenilgaegfmuf I 2, 2 PATENTED MAR. 17', 1903.

- N. A. STEPHENS.

VAULT TRAP. -A PI LIOATION FILED NQV. 26,, 1902.

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N0 MODEL.

,ATENT 1 Price.

NOBLE A". STEPHENS, OF MARION, INDIANA.

VAL) LT-TRAP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 722,92 5, dated March 17, 1903 Application filed November 26, 1902. Serial No. 132,938. (No model.l

To all whom, it ntay concern:

Be it known that I, NOBLE A. STEPHENS, a citizen of. the United States, residing at Marion, in the county of Grant and State of Indiana, have invented a new and useful Trap for Safe -Vaults, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to devices for protecting safe-vaults, and particularly to what are known as vault-traps, and has for its objects to produce a device of this nature which will be very simple of construction and operation and will efficiently perform its functions.

To these ends the invention comprises, in combination with a vault having a passage leading thereto, a closure for the passage, a catch adapted to engage saidclosure to maintain the same normally open, mechanism controlled by a movable floor-section adapted to operate said catch to release the closure, and means for automatically locking said closure in its closed position.

The invention further consists in the details of construction more fully hereinafter described.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of the device, the door being shown in its normal open'position. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same, the door closed. Fig. 3 is a front sectional elevation illustrating parts of the underlying mechanism. Fig. 4 is a vertical longitudinal section on the line 4 4 of Fig. 5. Fig. 5 is ahorizontal sectional plan on the line 5 5 of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the safetyplate.

Referring to the drawings, 1 indicates a passage leading to the bank vault or safe, and 2 is the means, preferably a door,-for closing the same. This door normally remains open, being maintained in such position preferably by a vertical pin 3, which projects upward through a hole in thefioor. This pin is preferably formed by bending vertically upward one end of a horizontal rod 4, which lies beneath the floor of the passage, and has its other end suitably secured to a verticallymovable pivoted section 5 of the floor lying beyond the door and sustained normally flush with the remainder of the floor. I have shown this movable section as mounted upon a horizontal pivot 6 at its rear end and supported by a vertical spring 6 at its front end; but it is to be understood that any other manner of mounting to impart to it a slight vertical motion sufficient to retract the pin 3 and release the door may be adopted. 7 The pivoted floor-section also has attached to its under side a plate '7, carrying a downwardly-projecting vertical pin 8, which when the floor-section is moved downward contacts with a plate 9, completes an electrical circuit through suitable wiring, and sounds an alarm at a distant point, for the purpose presently explained.

10 is a spring which serves to close the door when released by the pin, and 11 is aspringlock which catches and secures the same in its closed position.

13 is a safety-plate which when desired may be placed over the pivoted floor-section to prevent operation of the same.

The operation of the device is as follows: The door 2 remains normally open and is maintained in such position by the pin 3.

After banking hours the safety-plate is revmoved to expose the pivoted floor-section.

Now should a burglar enter the bank he must in order to reach the vault traverse the passage 1 and in so doing will tread upon the movable section 5, which lies beyond the door.

Pressure upon this section forces the rod 4 downward, retracts pin 3, and releases the door, which springs to and locks, preventing escape. At the same time the pin 8 contacts with plate 9, completes the electrical circuit, and' sounds an alarm. at police-headquarters.

While I have shown and described herein what I believe to be the simplest and best mechanism for attaining the ends in view, it is to be understood that I do not limit or confine myself thereto, as various changes may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of my invention. 7

It is to be understood that the door 2 is located in a hall or passage-way constituting the only mode of communication-with the safevault and that this passage-way is closed by a wall on either side, as usual. In-Fig. 1 of passage leading thereto, of a door adapted to close the passage, a pin adapted to maintain said door norm ally open and mechanism situated beneath the floor, controlled by a pivoted floor-section, adapted to retract the pin to release the door.

In testimony that I "claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aifixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

NOBLE A. STEPHENS. Witnesses:

ELI JoNEs, HARRY WILLIAMSON. 

